This post will be regularly updated with new information as Saturday's events take place.
Saturday, August 3, Sha'Carri Richardson is after her first-ever Olympic medal. The decorated U.S. sprinter owns the title of world champion from the 2023 competition in Budapest where she won gold in both the 100m and 4X100m relay, but she has yet to participate in an Olympic final.
Last time around in Tokyo, Richardson was ineligible to participate due to a suspension for a drug test that returned positive for THC, a compound found in marijuana. Cannabis is a prohibited substance as viewed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
Nevertheless, she is a competitor in 2024, having qualified for the 100m sprint. She crushed it on Friday, leaving her heat in the dust in prelims and the first round, but as one would expect, the challenge is going to get steeper from here on out.
She is up against two tough competitors in her semifinal on Saturday: Julien Alred and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Fraser-Pryce has a personal record better than Richardson's best time, while Alred is the slowest of the three when using PRs as the barometer.
Live updates on Sha'Carri Richardson's 100m day
Final (all times ET)
- 3:04p.m.: The mixed relay is finishing up, which means the 100m should start lining up shortly.
- 3:09p.m.: There are reports of heavy rain, and speculation the event may be delayed as a result.
- 3:18p.m.: The track is visibly wet.
- 3:18p.m.: Despite the rain, introductions are starting.
- 3:19p.m.: The other Americans participating: Twanisha Terry and Melissa Jefferson.
- 3:22p.m.: Marks are being taken.
- 3:23p.m.: Richardson has finished second, securing silver. Alfred beat Richardson just as she did in the semifinal. Alfred wins gold, the first ever for Saint Lucia.
Richardson will race in the final at 3:20 p.m. ET. Here are her co-competitors:
- Julien Alfred
- Sha'Carri Richardson
- Tia Clayton
- Daryll Neita
- Melissa Jefferson
- Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith
- Mujinga Kambundji
- Twanisha Terry
Semifinal: Richardson Qualifies for Final
- 1:57 p.m.: Richardson's heat should be lining up soon.
- 1:59 p.m.: Runners from Richardson's heat are being announced.
- 2:00 p.m.: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's block is empty, and will not participate. She was the fastest woman in the heat by PRs. Sha'Carri Richardson has been announced to loud cheers.
- 2:01 p.m.: Here we go.
- 2:02 p.m.: Richardson fell behind Alfred at the start and closed the gap toward the end, but did not catch up. Two runners qualify for the final, so Richardson advances to the final.
- 2:04 p.m.: Richardson will be back on the track for the final at around 3:20 p.m.
When to watch Sha'Carri Richardson's semifinal on Saturday
Richardson's 100m semifinal heat will take place at 2:10p.m. ET and can be seen on NBC, USA, or Peacock. Here is a full list of competitors in Richardson's heat, organized by PRs:
How does 100m semifinal heat work?
There are eight slots available for the final race. The eight qualifying athletes are determined by the three semifinal heats which each feature nine athletes, meaning 27 athletes are whittled down to nine.
When to watch 100m Final on Saturday
Should Richardson qualify for the final in her heat (and she's largely expected to), she will be racing in the final at 3:20 p.m. ET.
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Sha'Carri Richardson 100m Tracker: Live Olympics Updates.
